Prohibitory orders under Section 144 are still in place at Gandhwani as well as Pipliya village which falls under Kukshi police station. Both these places witnessed communal clashes on Wednesday.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 are still in place at Gandhwani in Dhar district as well as Pipliya village.(Arun Mondhe/HT photo)

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 are still in place at Gandhwani in Dhar district as well as Pipliya village which falls under Kukshi police station. Both these places witnessed communal clashes on Wednesday.

Several persons were injured in stone pelting from both sides and there were incidents of arson in which several shops and vehicles were set on fire.

Though there have been no untoward incidents in the last 24 hours, normal life has been badly affected as streets are deserted and markets closed. Heavy police presence is observed on the roads in both these places.

Meanwhile, police have registered seven cases against 82 people, both Hindus and Muslims, following the clashes which left several persons injured. The cases deal with rioting, arson, hurting religious sentiment of another community, criminal intimidation etc. In one case, an attempt to murder has also been slapped against 12 people.

Following the incident in Pipliya, police have registered six cases in which 107 people have been booked against members of both communities. Most of the cases relate to arson, rioting and criminal intimidation Section 307 has been slapped against four, 30 and 20 people in three separate cases.

Right wing Hindu outfit Hindu Jagaran Manch has called for Dhar bandh on Saturday to protest against communal incidents in Dedla, Gandhwani and Piploda. Manch leader Vishwas Pandey confirmed the bandh. According to the HJM narrative, it was actions by Muslims that led to communal clashes in all these places in Dhar.

The situation at Bhaurasa in Dewas district is limping back to normal. Most of the shops in the area opened though traffic was thin as people preferred to stay indoors. Police were conspicuous all over the town, though they appeared more relaxed. Section 144 of CrPC still remains in force, though it is not being enforced.

A meeting of the peace committee was held in the afternoon where public representatives vowed that communal harmony would be maintained at any cost. Later, a peace march was also taken out by the people.